Neander diesel outboard in full production
The 50hp diesel outboard that has been under development and testing at the German company of Neander Shark is now in full production and available to commercial operators.
A spokesperson said, ”At this stage all our production in going to the commercial sector where the benefits of using diesel power are most appreciated. The fuel savings in terms of both cost and consumption outweigh the additional cost of the diesel units in this sector”.
This diesel outboard has been under development for the past 5 years and pre-production prototypes have been extensively tested on a variety of commercial and para-military boats. “We are now satisfied that these outboards now have the high level of reliability that commercial operators require.”
Last year it was announced that Yanmar Marine International (YMI) had agreed exclusive distribution rights with Neander Shark. Headquartered in the Netherlands, YMI will distribute Neander Shark outboards worldwide through its extensive network with access to more than 130 countries. This gives the Neander diesel outboard the essential support and spares availability that will allow it to compete in international markets.
Yanmar is not new to diesel outboards. From 1985 until 2009 this Japanese company manufactured three-cylinder diesel outboards which were rated at 27 and 36hp, but ceased production when EPA and EU RCD emissions regulations restricted their sales in key markets. “With the global economic downturn in full swing, Yanmar decided at that time not to invest in the outboard range even though it had been highly successful in many markets,” explained Floris Lettinga, the YMI Global Sales Manager.” Now, however, with Neander Shark we can offer a highly competitive outboard product with outstanding engineering.”
The Neander Shark outboard develops 50hp from a small 800cc turbocharged, twin-cylinder diesel engine in aluminium with common-rail fuel injection and a unique dual counter-rotating crankshaft concept. This means that the outboard is not only light, powerful, clean and fuel-efficient, it is also remarkably smooth in operation as the two crankshafts counterbalance each other and cancel out most of the vibration that a conventional inline two-cylinder diesel block could be expected to produce. The outboard is offered with both tiller and wheel steering options.
As part of the Neander Shark distribution agreement Yanmar has taken an equity stake in Neander Motors, the company that wholly owns Neander Shark. In the UK the sales and support for the Neander outboard will be handled by E.P.Barrus who are the UK Yanmar distributors and who will be exhibiting the new outboard engine at Seawork International 2017 on stand Q17.
By Dag Pike
